The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-07
AGED ONE HUNDRED,

i'll the history of religious or social events
in this part of the State was there such u
concourse of people as assembled to-day at
Blue Ball church, twelve miles west of this
Mace to participate in the celebration of
the centennial birthday of Mrs Fanny Hill.
Hardin, Meade and Breckenridge counties
were represented i'll the throng of over {, 600
and OF the number it was estimated that
fully one-third were related, either by blood
or marriage, with Mrs. Hill, and as it was
an old-age event, the number of old people
present was greater than was ever seen
there before Mrs. Hill was accompanied by
her husband, who is eleven months younger
than herself, and both greatly enjoyed the
celebration and the meeting of so many re-
lations and friends
AT THE CHURCH
The aged couple were placed in buggy
1t the home of their son, John w Hill, and
then grandson led the horse slowly to
avoid iolting them in the ride to the church.
one mile away.
They arrived on the grounds at an early
hour, and already a large number were on
hand awaiting them, and in short time
they we're surrounded by their poSterity to
the fifth generation. All three of their liv-
ing children were present, the Oldest being
g. and the youngest being 60 years old,
while tho grand, great grand, and great
great-grandchildren were almost too numer-
GUS to count
At the appointed hour,
THE CEREMONIES OF THE DAY
were opened with song by the assembly
and prayer by Rev. G. S. King, of Big
Spring who read the Nineteenth Psalm and
6hen gave an interesting recital of the event
full lives Of the aged couple from birth to
the end of century. The discourse was re-
plete with interesting incidents and reminis-
cences and was listened to with great atten-
ton. After the sermon aud prayer by
Brother James Jenkins the audience Joined
earnestly i'll the singing of the doxolOgy,
which was followed by the benediction.
Then followed
ROUND OF HANDsHAKING
between the old people, and hundreds who
came to honor them, and then all repaired
TO long rustic table and scores of family
and neighborhood spreads, where they found
awaiting them one of the most elaborate
feasts ever spread in the State. The bom-
tiful repast was partaken of by the throng,
and then there was left many a basket
full.
The religious ceremonies were then re-
sumed. After a song and prayer, Rev. T.
A. Robertson read the seventy-first Psalm,
and taking his text from the ninth verse,
preached very eloquent sermon apprOpri-
ate to the day and occasion. The exercises
were closed by the singing of the 367 gospel
hymn,
THE WAYwORN TRAVELLER,
in which the entire audience joined with
great animation Mr. and Mrs. Hill hold
strongly to their Christian faith and spend
much time in religious meditation. Mrs
Hill joined the Baptist church in 1911 and
Mr.. Hill attached himself to the Cumberland
Presbyterian church in 1898. Seven minis
tiers took part in the Communications Bap-
fists, two Methodist and one Presbyterian,
and the event was the grandest that ever
occurred at Blue Ball
HISTORY OF THE AGED PEOPLE.
The spectacle of such an aged couple sur
rounded by such a numerous posterity cele-
brating the centennial birthday of one af-
ter the other has passed the ninety-ninth
nlilepost is seldom witnessed, and is worthy
of the widespread attention that has been
given it. Mrs. Hills life, though long, has
not, so far as your correspondent could
learn, been very eventfuL In reply to re-
quest for some "reminiscences of her life, she
replied:
~ don't remember anything worth relat-
ing, except that the Lord has been good to
me all the time. He has blessed me with
good children and long life. and if can be
grateful to Him / will be satisfied
Mrs. Hill was born at Culpepper Court
House. Va, and besides being one of four
teen children, she was one of triplets, and it
is somewhat remarkable that every one of
the fourteen, seven boys and seven girls,
lived to be married and reared families and
three of them lived to be over So Her par
ents, James and Elizabeth Kelly Noll, emf
grated to Nelson county in the early part of
the present century and on Sept. Z, 1873 she
married John N. Hill. Her parents both
died in the same week in March 1914, of
malady known as ''cold plague" and two
slaves, husband and wife, died during the
same week. John n and Fanny Hill were
q i. Il
Is IA years old, resides on Rough Creek and
looks as old as his father; Matilda Slack,
who lives in Texas and was present at the
Centennial, and John W, with whom the
old folks live, and the following who are
dead Mary E., Cyrus NJ, Martin, George
W, and William L., and two who died in
infancy OF their posterity they can count
to-day, besides their two sons and one
daughter, forty-one grandchildren, sixty
seven great -grandchildren and five great
great-grandchildren making 118 in all liv-
ing Mrs. Hill has always been noted for
her piety, and has led life of quiet medita-
ton. When asked about herself, she re-
Piled:
"You will have to get John to tell you; he
always does the talking"
Both are very feeble and hard Of hearing,
but Mrs. Hill can hear more distinctly and is
more active than her husband, though she is
nearly eleven months the Oldest
JOHN N. HILL
was born on May IS, 17SS, near town
named Washington, he thinks, about thirty
miles from Pittsburg. Both OF his mater
nal grand parents were killed by the Indians
during an assault on Forth Kinglesmith, in
Westmoreland county, Pa, and at the same
time an uncle was captured and carried
away by the Indians and kept in captivity
until he reached manhood. He visited his
relatives and acquaintance, but preferred
the Indian habits and returned to the tribe
and married a squaw. John n. Hills
father, Frederic Hill, was soldier in the
Revolutionary army, and was wounded at
the battle of Brandywine. He received a
pension of IS month during his life
In 1889, the parents of John N. Hill
moved to Kentucky and settled at Louis
vile, where they remained four years.
Though but child, Mr.. Hill has an indis-
tnct recollection of a fort and some log huts
at Louisville, around which he played. In
1893, his parents moved TO Nelson county
and settled four miles from Bardstown, at a
place known as Fredericksburg, where they
engaged in milling aud merchandising, the
place being called in honor of Mr.. Hills
father After remaining there ten years,
they moved to Washington county, whore
Frederic Hill erected a mill, and, in addit-
tion to farming, embarked in the business of
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